Real ID deadline is coming: Is there an additional fee to upgrade?

New York’s Staten Island. Under the new identity requirements, New Yorkers who want to travel easily from neighboring countries including Canada, Mexico, and several Caribbean countries will have to pay a few dollars.

Beginning on May 7, residents of New York will need a document that satisfies Real ID requirements in order to utilize their state-issued identification cards for federal purposes, including domestic travel.

An Enhanced ID is one such document that is accessible in New York. It costs $30, satisfies Real ID requirements, and permits holders to enter the nation by land or sea from Canada, Mexico, and some Caribbean nations without a U.S. passport.

The U.S. passport, which satisfies Real ID requirements, will still be needed to travel to those nations. According to the state DMV, upgrading to Real ID also entails standard transaction fees.

The Department of Homeland Security claims that the REAL ID Act, which was passed by Congress in 2005, implemented the 9/11 Commission’s recommendation that the federal government establish guidelines for the issue of identifying documents, including driver’s licenses and identification cards.

Minimum security requirements for licenses and other identification cards were established by the law and its follow-up rules, which also forbade federal agencies from accepting noncompliant cards for specific official uses, such as boarding commercial aircraft.

Anyone 18 years of age and older who intends to travel domestically or visit specific federal institutions will require a Real ID or another accepted form of identification, such as a passport, starting May 7, 2025, following years of postponed implementation.

Anyone who wants to update their documentation must first gather some papers, although compliant state IDs are available at any New York Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) store.

The following paperwork is required to receive a Real ID or Enhanced ID, according to the DMV:

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  Proof of identity, such as valid license, birth certificate or passport, with your full first, middle (if applicable) and last name. This name will be displayed on your card as required by federal law.
  
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  Proof of Social Security Number or Social Security Number ineligibility. If you have a valid N.Y. license, permit or ID card, you must bring your original Social Security card or W-2 with full SSN. If you do not have a New York state driver license or identification card, you must bring your Social Security Card or a letter from the Social Security Administration proving your ineligibility to have a social security number.
  
• 
  Proof of your date of birth.
  
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  Proof of U.S. citizenship, lawful permanent residency or temporary lawful status in the United States.
  
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  Two different proofs of New York State residence, such as utility bill, bank statement or mortgage statement (a P.O. Box not acceptable).
  
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  If the name on your license, permit, or non-driver ID application does not match the name on your proof of identity, lawful status and Social Security, you must bring in court- or government-issued proof documenting the event causing your name change(s), such as a marriage license, divorce decree, adoption, or court-order document.
  

Go to the DMV website to learn more about how to get a Real ID or Enhanced ID.

Travelers will be able to enter some federal buildings and board domestic flights using both the Real ID and the Enhanced ID.

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